Trolley switch



u 1931- J. F. WOOLLEY. JR., ET AL 1,810,548

TROLLEY SWITCH Filed Jan. 20, 1930 MEGA 7''] V5 POSITIVE In ve nlor Jlz'uzpmrz F Woozm dk. L4 meznrcs JLa Attorney @1 ation of both systems.

Patented June 16, 1931 UNITED sAriEs PATENT OFFICE JEDEDIAI-I r. wooLLn an, AND tnwnnncn atone, or sALrLAKE CITY, UTAH TROLLEY SWITCH Application filedvJanuary 20, 1930. Serial No. 421,908.

Our invention relates to an overheaditrolley system and switching mechanism there for.

The object of our invention is to provide 5 an overhead system and switching mecha nism therefor through which the rigid harp ordinarily used upon electrically operated street cars may'pass from the main line to eitherbranch line and through which the swiveled harps ordinarily used upon electrically operated busses or coaches may pass from the main line to one of two branches predetermined by the setting ofthe switch mechanism; 7

Our. invention contemplates, a system which will provide currentto either the ordinary street car operated on a track below a trolley wire or provide current to the electric coach or tr-ackless trolley which has no definite 0 path which it follows and in which one wire ofour invention is common to the operation of the stud 7 passing through the standard 8 of both styles of vehicles. j

In the operation of electric street cars the overhead trolleyis usual positive and the track negative, but in the operation of electric busses current is drawn from two overhead wires,.namely; negative and positive asthe.

buss is insulated from the ground. 7 We employ the'positive trolley wir for the oper- Inview of the fact that; the overhead conductors are, substantially fix'ed but .the elec- Itricbuss' is free to move wherever the operator pleases with respect to the conductors ff and within limits it isnecessary to provide .s'Wi-veled headsdor harps and unless some means is provided to definitelyv guide the swiveled heads through turn-out switches, suchheads are very likely to take the wrong .7 3:95 path and wehave therefore provided means forcausing the heads to take a predetermined path through the switch'regardless of the relative position of the electric buss with respect tothe overhead switch;

"With the ordinary electric car having a fixed head the construction and operation is such that the path taken by the fixed head throughthe switch: is determined by the lateral movement of the car itself @ur invention residesin thenew and novel Fig. 1 is a top plan view of our switching.

mechanism. Fig. 2 is a side view in elevation of the switching pan common to both vehicles.

Fig. 3 is a side View in elevation of'the switch pan used by the electric coach only,

Fig. 4 is a'transverse viewin partial sec tionoi our invention taken on the line H of Fig. .1.

In the preferred embodiment of our invention we employ a switch pan 1 which is of the ordinary type excepting for a movable tongue 2 and we also employ a special pan 3.

The an 1 comprises the; end members 4, 4, i and each is fitted with a movable wear end5 and receives the trolley wires 6, 6, 6". The-tongue 2 is pivotally supported by means and is held in position and rotated by means of the lever. 9 which is provided with an upright pin 10. The lever 9 may have its position upon the stud 7 adjusted and fixed in position by means of the bolt 11. 7

It will. be evident that if a car approaches the switch 1 along the wire 6 moving in the direction of the arrow and that if the tongue 2 is free tomove; thetrolley head will take either, the branch wire .6 or 6 depending {upon the direction of movement of the car as determinedby the track upon which the car moves that is, the drag upon the trolley head will efiect. movement of the tongue 2 to either the position shown in Fig. 1 orv to the branch 4" the same asis now accomplished with the ordinary type of overhead switch and. which is familiar vto -those skilled in the art. w

The switch 1 may be supported by means of the slottedlugs-12 or by other suitable means. 1 1

Asthus far described our system is coma parable to that of the present system for ordiortracklessitrolley, weemploy the pan 3 and as shown the predetermined direction of travel of the swiveled trolley head is straight ahead and not an angle direction, that is, the heads will enter the pans 1 and 3 as indicated by the arrows and will leave the pans by means of the wires 6 and 18, therefore the mechanism must be arranged so as to position the switch tongue 2 to fill the gap between the arms 1 and r or e on the pan 1. This is brought about through the construction and operation of the pan 3.

The pan 3 comprises the trough like body member 1 1 having pivoted thereto an elongated tongue 15 by means of the pivotal pin 16 and the lugs 17 mounted on the body 1 1. Lugs 18 secured to the tongue 15 at one end project upwardly through slots in the body 1 1 and engage with the pin 16. The tongue being hinged at one end will drop at the other end by gravity as sh Wii in Fig. 3. When a trolley head engages he tongue 5 moving in the direction of the arrow it is evident that the upward pressure will move the free end of the tongue 15 upwardly about 4 the pivot 16. This motion we desire to trans mit to the tongue 2 and therefore we mount upon the upper surface of the body 1% lugs 19 and 19 and as shown in Fig. 1 there is pivotally mounted on the lugs 19 a bell crank 20 by means of the pin 21. One end of the bell crank 20 is pivotally secured to the ton 'ue 15 by means of the pivot 22 and the other end is pivotally connected to mechanism which in turn is connected to the lever 9 through the medium of the pin 23. It will now be evident that if the tongue 15 is raised then the bell crank 20 will be moved about the pin 21 and the upper end of the bell crank 20 will be moved in the direction of the arrow also the mechanism connected thereto as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 4.

The connecting mechanism comprises an insulating bar 2 1 which may be of wood and which is necessary as the pans 1 and 3 are of opposite polarity. To one end of the arm 24 is secured a fitting 25 and an adjustable rod 26 having a head 2? pivotally secured to the bell crank20. The other end of the arm 24- has a fitting 28 securec thereto and having a slot 29 therein in which is positioned the stud 1.0.

The trolley wire 13 may be made continuous through the pan 8 and in order to prevent its interference between the tongue 15 and the bell crank 20 the lug 3O is'provided, which throws the wire 13 out of interference with the operation of the tongue 15.

With the setting as shown in Fig. 1 the street car with its fixed head is free to travel along the track and trolley wire 6-6 or 66 and in the direction indicated by the arrow or in the opposite direction along wire 6.-6.while the swivel heads of the trolley buss can travel only. along the trolley wire 66' and 13. As the fixed trolley moves along the approach 4 the tongue 2 may be aligned with the trolley 6 0r 6" due to the fact that the pin 10 is free to move in the slot 29, but the tongue 2 will adjust itself through the drag of the trolley head to either align itself with the trolley wire 6 or 6 depending upon the movement of the car.

If a trolley buss is operating through the switching mechanism, one head will raise the tongue 15 when it contacts therewith and this movement will be transmitted to the bell crank 20 and connecting mechanism between the pans which will move in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1. If the tongue 2 is in the position as shown in Fig. 1 then the operation of the tongue 15 will not result in any movement to the tongue 2 and the heads will move straight through as intended, but should the tongue 2 be aligned with the arm 1 then the operation of the tongue 15 will cause the connecting mechanism to act on the pin 10 and move the tongue to the position shown in Fig. 1 and permit the heads to move straight through the device. Also the tongue 2 will beheld in the straight-of-way position as the pin 10 will contact with the lower end of the slot 29 when the connecting arm has moved in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 1. The length of the tongue 15 and its location with respect to the tongue 2 must be such that its operation will be effected before the one head engages the tongue 2 and must remain in engagement with the tongue 15 until the said head has passed over the tongue 2. f

If it is desired to have the swiveled heads of the trolley buss move at an angle as for instance shown by the trolley 6' then the right hand end of the pan 3 would be angularly disposed as shown by the dotted line X corresponding to the angle of the parts1"-5 and in order to produce a proper operation of the tongue 2, the lever 9 would be thrown into the position indicated by the dotted line Y on Fig. 1 or the bell crank lever 20 may be positioned in the upright posts 19 and in either case the operation of the tongue 2 would be to complete the path to the arm 1 when the tongue 15 was raised also if desired the direction of movement of the heads may be made along the direction Z," Z by arranging the ends of the pans accordingly and properly adjusting the connecting mechanism between the two pans. It will thus seem that one overhead system may be used for two modes of transportation and the direction of movement ofthe overhead trolleys in one type of transportation is positively predetermined andthe switches are held in such predetermined position until the heads have passed the movable parts of the switches.

There will, of course, be modifications which will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art after reading our disclosure, therewire system consisting of two overhead wires fore, we wish to befllimited only by our claims.

We claim:, p 1 1.. Inanoverhead system the combination of twoloverhead conductors of opposite polarity, a track and, turnout having the same polarity as one of the overhead conductors, a switch in one of the overhead conductors corresponding to the track and turnout and having a pivotally mounted switchingtongue, anoperatiiig mechanism positioned in the other overhead conductor .and operable by a trolley head contacting therewith and moving in a predetermined direction and connecting means between the operating mechanism and the switch tongue to move the switch tongue to correspond to said predetermineddirection.

2. In an overhead switching system the combination of twojoverhead conductors of opposite polarity to supply current to a'trolley buss having two trolley heads, a track and turnout for atrolley car having a single head and deriving its current from'the track and one overhead conductor, a switch in the said. oneconductor having a switch tongue movableto two positions and one position corresponding to the track turnout, an operating mechanism in the other conductor.

and operable by a headon the trolley buss contacting therewith and'moving in a predetermined direction and connecting means between the operating mechanisin'and the switch tongue to move'the tongue to correspond to the direction of travel of the trolley 'head upon the other conductor.

4. An overhead system comprising atwo I for operating trolley busses anda "single wire system consisting'of one ofthe overhead wires and a track for operating a trolley car, a switch" in one wire and means in the other wire and connect-ed with said switch to operate the switch to a predetermined position when said means is engaged by a trolley head on the trolley buss.

5, A'trolley'system comprising a two'wire system consisting of twooverhead w res nsulated from each otherffor operating atrolley bus and a singlefwire system consisting I of one of the overhead wires insulated froin the ground for operating atrolley car and a track and a switch inoneof the overhead wires, means remote from the switch arranged to automatically operate the switch to avpredetermined position when engaged by a trolley head and means beyond the control of the bus operator to automatically operate the first said means when the bus approaches the switch. i

6. A trolley system comprising a two wire system and a single wire system of which one wire of the two wire system is common to both systems a switch in the common wire movable to two positions and operated toa predetermined position by mechanism positioned in the other Wire and when engaged by a trolley head on a moving vehicle.

7. A trolley system comprising a two wire system and a single wire system of which one wire of the twowire system is common to both systems, a' switch having a pivotally mounted tongue positioned in the common wire and movable to either of two positions by asingle fixed trolley head and means to beengaged by a head passing along the othei' wire to move the switchtongue to a predeterm ned position and hold it in said position fora predetermined time. i

8. In a trolley system the combination of i a pair of spaced and parallel main conduc tors of different polarities, a branch conduct-or from one conductor, a switch located at the unction of said branch and main conductor and having a tongue operable to conduct. a trolley head either across the switch from mainconductor to main conductor or to the branch when moving in the same direction depending upon' the direction of drag-of the trolley headxand means associated with the other conductor to'be engaged by a second trolley head to move the tongue of said switch to a predetermined position.

9. A switching mechanism comprising a switch consisting ofapan-having a main path anda branch'path, a-tongue pivoted to the pan to guide a trolley head across the .lllitlll path through or from the main path to the branch path, an" operating mechanism spaced from' the switch and adapted to be engagedand operated-by a second trolley head at each passing of the first head across the pan and means connecting'the operating .inechanisni and the switch tongue to compel the moving of the tongue to one of its two positions when the said mechanism is op'erated by said second trolley head; I

, 10.1% switching mechanism comprising a switch pan havingan approacharm and two 1 branch arms and a movable tongue pivoted "ad]acent the approaching arm to connect the approach arm with either ofthe branch arms to guide a trolley headthereacross,operating mechanism spaced from theswitch pan and having a movable arm operated by the upward pressure of a second and'simultaneill) to connect the approach arm with either of the branch arms to guide a trolley head thereacross, operating mechanism spaced from the switch and having a movable arm engaged by and operated by the upward pressure of a second passing trolley head at each passing of the head, connecting means between the movable arm and the switch tongue to operate the tongue in one direction when the movable arm is operated, the connecting means provided with means to insulate the i switch and the operating mechanism.

12. A switching mechanism comprising a switch pan having an approach arm and two branch arms and a movable tongue pivoted to connect the approach arm with either o1 the branch arms to guide a passing trolley head to either branch arm, operating mechanism spaced from the switch pan and having a movable arm operated by a second passing trolley head, connecting means between the movable arm and the switch tongue to operate the tongue in one direction when the movable arm is operated by said second head, the switch tongue being operable by a passing trolley head to either of its two positions independent of its operation by the operat ing mechanism.

13. A switching mechanism comprising a switch pan having-an approach arm and two branch arms and a movable tongue pivoted to connect the approach-arm with either of the branch arms to guide a passing trolley head to either branch arm, operating mechanism spaced from the switch pan and having a movable arm operated by a second simultaneously passing trolley head, insulating connecting means between the movable arm and the remote switch tongue to operate the tongue in one direction when the movable arm is also operated, the switch tongue being operable to either of two positions by a passing trolley head and independent of the operating mechanism.

14. A switching mechanism comprising a switch provided with a pan having an approach arm and aplurality of branch arms and a movable tongue pivoted to connect the approach to any one of the branch arms to guide a passing trolley head to either branch arm, operating mechanism spaced from the switch and having a movable arm operable by a second and simultaneously passing trolley head spaced from the first head, connecting means between the movable arm and the tongue and operable when the movable arm is operated and means connecting the said connecting means and the tongue to move the tongue when the arm moves in one direction only and permitting the free movement of the tongue to any one of the branches independent of the connecting means.

15. A switching mechanism comprising a switch provided with a pan having a wire receiving approach and a pair of wire receiving branches and a movable ton ue pivoted to connect the approach to either of the branches anc guide a passing trolley head thereacross, operating mechanism spaced from the switch and having wire receiving arms at its ends and having a movable arm operated by a second passing trolley head and means connecting the movable arm and the tongue to move the tongue when the movable arm is operated.

16. A switching mechanism comprising a switch pan having a wire receiving approach and a pair of wire receiving branches and a pivotally mounted tongue to connect the approach to the branches, an operating mechanism spaced from the switch and having wire receiving arms and a pivotally mounted arm operable in one direction by a passing trolley head and in another direction by gravity and means connecting the pivotally mounted arm and the movable tongue to position the tongue and hold the tongue in its said-position while a trolley head is passing through the switch. 7

17 A switching mechanism comprising a switch pan having a wire receiving approach and a pair of wire receiving branches and a pivotally mounted tongue to connect the aphead and in another direction by gravity and means adjustable in length connecting the pivotally mounted arm and the movable tongue to position the tongue and hold the tongue in its said position while a trolley head is passing through the switch.

18. A switching mechanism comprising a switch pan havinga wire receiving approach and a pair of wire receiving branches and a pivotally mounted tongue to connect the approach with either branch, operating mechanism comprising a body member spaced from the switch and having a pivotally mounted arm with its free end adapted to move upwardly by pressure of a passing trolley head and to move downwardly by gravity and means provided with insulation to connect the pivotal arm and the switch tongue in insulated relation and transmit motion to the tongue and means to change the direction of movement of the tongue relative to the direction of movement of the pivotal arm.

19. A switching mechanism comprising a switch pan having a wire receiving approach and a pair of wire receiving branches and a pivotally mounted tongue to connect the approach with either branch, operating mechanism comprising a body member spaced from the switch and having a pivotally mounted arm with its free end adapted to move up wardly by pressure of a passing trolley head and to move downwardly by gravity and means provided with insulation to connect the pivotal arm and the switch tongue in insulated relation and transmit motion to the tongue and means to change the direction of movement of the tongue relative to the direction of movement of the pivotal arm, the operating mechanism having a connection with the tongue permitting movement of the tongue independent of that of the operating mechanism when the said mechanism isinoperative.

20. A switching mechanism adapted to operate with either a single collector system or a two collector system of transportation comprising a switch pan having an approach member and two branch members connected to positively charged conductors and a pivotally mounted tongue to connect the aproach to either of the branch members, an operating mechanism spaced from the switch and connected to a negatively charged conductor, a negatively charged track spaced from the switch and conductors connected thereto, the operating mechanism provided with a movablearm and means connecting the arm and the tongue to transmit motion from the arm to the tongue when the arm is operated by a passing current collector:

21. A trolley system comprising a two wire system and a single wire system of which one wire of the two wire system is common to both systems, a switch in the common wire movable to two positions and an operating mechanism in the other wire arranged to operatethe switch to a predetermined position when the operating mechanism is engaged by a trolley head on a moving vehicle, the switch being also operable to either of its two positions by engagement therewith of a moving head when the system is functioning as a single Wire system. 7 V

In testimony whereof we aflix our signa- J EDEDIAH F. WOOLLEzY, JR.

LAWRENCE J. LONG.

i tures. 

